What associations make or break a name for you?

General Name Discussion
1

I was just wondering what types of name associations add to the appeal, which don’t really sway people one way or the other, and which incline people to not use them.

For example, I love the name [name]Duncan[/name], and even though lots of people have said they think of Dunkin’ Donuts or [name]Duncan[/name] [name]Hines[/name], I think I would still consider it for a future child anyway. In contrast, the first (and only, for a quite a while) time I heard the name [name]Declan[/name], it was used as a character on the TV show [name]Kyle[/name] XY. [name]Even[/name] though [name]Duncan[/name] and [name]Declan[/name] are so similar in sound, spelling, and origin, I don’t think I’d ever be able to use [name]Declan[/name] because I always immediately think of that show.

Another example: I don’t think I’d ever be able to use [name]Lake[/name] as a name because it’s just too much of a word name for my taste. However, I do think I would consider the name [name]River[/name], because [name]Summer[/name] Glau in Firefly/[name]Serenity[/name] made it seem like much more of a name to me than a strict word.

So how about all of you? So far I haven’t really found any sort of pattern in my reactions to name associations, but maybe some of you have?

ETA: I found it amusing that this post makes it sound like all I do is sit and watch TV, when in reality I don’t even have cable! Maybe pop culture has more sway with me than I’d like to admit…

2

Associations that break a name for me: people I know. There are some names I absolutely cannot stand, even if they’re perfectly nice names, because I’ve known an awful person by that name.

I’m with you: word names usually make me gag, but if I’ve watched a show or movie with a word name, I think of it more as a name and less of a word, if that makes sense. I’d have to use [name_u]River[/name_u] as an example, too, because of [name_m]Doctor[/name_m] Who rather than Firefly. Certain characters make me start liking names. Once I got into Gossip Girl, I started really liking the name [name_u]Blair[/name_u]. [name_m]Doctor[/name_m] Who led to me liking [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_f]Clara[/name_f]. I’ve loved the name [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] since middle school, when I first got into the TV show Bewitched. Actors that I like work, too. I started liking the name [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] because of [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] Cumberbatch.

Negative ones, though… aside from people I know, there’s really no pattern for me.

3

I taught, so I have associations for difficult kids with certain names. And good associations for some names, too. And oh my goodness, high school. It was a long time ago, but names of people I didn’t like will always be a negative association for me.

4

[name_m]Duncan[/name_m] is a handsome, dashing name. I would love to see it more widely used.

For me, the primary associations I seem to be drawn to are literature (particularly children’s literature), mythology, history (the Renaissance, late 19th century, and the Roaring 20s), and botany. I love boys’ names I associate with hardboiled detective stories – [name_m]Dashiell[/name_m], [name_u]Roscoe[/name_u], [name_u]Wallace[/name_u], [name_u]Marlowe[/name_u] (also a Renaissance and literary name; see [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] [name_u]Marlowe[/name_u]). I’m a huge nerd and I really like names with ties to nerd culture, like [name_m]Simon[/name_m] and [name_u]River[/name_u] (Firefly), [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] ([name_f]Buffy[/name_f], [name_u]Angel[/name_u], and the Vorkosigan saga), [name_f]Jane[/name_f] ([name_m]Captain[/name_m] Janeway from [name_f]Star[/name_f] Trek: The Next Generation), [name_u]Valentine[/name_u] (Ender’s Game), [name_f]Elektra[/name_f] (the [name_f]Marvel[/name_f] superhero), [name_m]Westley[/name_m] (The [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Bride[/name_f]), and [name_m]Tiberius[/name_m] ([name_m]Captain[/name_m] [name_m]Kirk[/name_m]'s middle name in [name_f]Star[/name_f] Trek: The Original Series). It’s very important to me that my favorite names, especially for girls, are associated with a famous figure from history or literature: [name_f]Alice[/name_f] ([name_u]James[/name_u], in Wonderland), [name_f]Jane[/name_f] ([name_u]Austen[/name_u], [name_f]Eyre[/name_f]), [name_f]Iris[/name_f] (Murdoch, Apfel), [name_u]Marlowe[/name_u] again ([name_m]Christopher[/name_m], Detective [name_m]Philip[/name_m]), [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] (the book), [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] (ditto), [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] again ([name_m]William[/name_m]), [name_m]Julius[/name_m] ([name_m]Caesar[/name_m]), [name_m]Raphael[/name_m] (the painter), [name_m]Erasmus[/name_m] (the philosopher), [name_m]Atlas[/name_m] (the god), [name_f]Ursula[/name_f] (LeGuin).

I think the overarching association that I find appealing is scholarliness, for lack of a better word. I like bookworm names that are also kind of badass. Think of a librarian who’s secretly a crime-fighter. Nerdy, but with a kick.

The associations that ruin a name for me are, well, the opposite of scholarliness – names I think of as being jock or prom queen names, like [name_u]Dustin[/name_u], [name_u]Mason[/name_u], [name_m]Kevin[/name_m], [name_u]Ashton[/name_u], [name_u]Bryce[/name_u], [name_u]Madison[/name_u], [name_u]Taylor[/name_u], [name_f]Brianna[/name_f]. I also dislike names associated with violence: [name_m]Rekker[/name_m], [name_m]Ryker[/name_m], [name_m]Gunnar[/name_m], [name_m]Maverick[/name_m], [name_u]Hunter[/name_u]. And I hate boys’ names on girls because I associate them with a misogynistic value system.

5

Some great (and really interesting) answers!

@augusta_lee: What do you think of [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] nn [name_m]Fred[/name_m], since it’s a nerd related name, but also has a boyish nickname? The name has intrigued me ever since I first saw [name_u]Angel[/name_u], but I don’t think I’d ever be able to use it.

6

I didn’t love the name [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] until I played The Walking Dead video game, which features an adorable girl named [name_f]Clementine[/name_f]. After that I saw the name in a whole new light. I think that’s the only case where a positive association has made my opinion on a name completely change. Although [name_f]Martha[/name_f] from [name_m]Doctor[/name_m] Who made the name feel less old-lady, and hearing the name [name_f]Tess[/name_f] in the video-game The Last of Us made me realize how much I liked it on its own (as opposed to [name_f]Tessa[/name_f] or as a nn for [name_f]Theresa[/name_f]).

7

@leahmarie512: I have to admit, while I don’t like boys’ names for girls I adore [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] with the nn [name_u]Freddie[/name_u].

Oh, and I thought of another association I love: astronomy. [name_u]Rigel[/name_u], [name_m]Pollux[/name_m], [name_u]Orion[/name_u], [name_f]Gaia[/name_f], [name_f]Andromeda[/name_f], [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] (double points for being a character in one of my favorite books), [name_m]Perseus[/name_m], [name_m]Altair[/name_m], [name_m]Castor[/name_m], [name_f]Capella[/name_f], [name_f]Electra[/name_f], [name_u]Vega[/name_u], [name_f]Talitha[/name_f]…I could name a Duggar’s worth of kids with star names. And I like astronomer names as well: [name_m]Galileo[/name_m], Copernicus, Tycho, [name_m]Giovanni[/name_m], [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] and [name_m]Abelard[/name_m].

8

I think things where the name is pretty much only known for one character. Like [name_m]Elmo[/name_m] wouldn’t work since I could only ever think of that obnoxious red monster. Yet for some reason I kind of like [name_u]Mickey[/name_u] despite the mouse.
I also would have to say people who have the name. I love the name [name_m]Charles[/name_m] but know one who is doing time for kiddie porn so I would never use it.

9

Positive family associations, historical figures, and awesome fictional characters can make a name for me. Negative family associations, historical figures, and fictional characters I dislike are things that can break a name for me. Imagery plays a large role in whether I like or dislike a name. If I don’t get imagery from a name, or if the name has bad imagery, it generally won’t go on my list.

10

This made me laugh :smiley: